People who seek medical services at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital are being asked to pay special fees authorities describe as development levy. In-patients have to pay 10 Ghana cedis while out-patients pay two Ghana cedis per visit to Ghana’s second largest health facility. However, the introduction of the new charges which came into effect this month has attracted reprehension not only from public but hospital staff as well. A memo dated June 29, 2012, and signed by Chief Executive, Prof Ohene Adjei, directs all heads of directorates to charge the levy, and payment covered by government -approved receipts. According to the document, which was revised on July 3, 2012, the levy has been approved by the board for minor repairs and staff motivation, among other commitments. However, a group of the hospital's workers say the step taken by the authorities will only increase cost of health care services and also make the hospital unpopular. A spokesperson who pleaded anonymity told Nhyira Fm the already over-burdened patient should not be the one to suffer in order to motivate hospital staff. She and other colleagues want the media to take up the matter in the interest of poor patients whom they say are being overburden. During a visit to the Komfo Anokye Hospital, Nhyira News witnessed scenes of near-confrontation between some patients and nurses over payment of the new levy. Nurses had to virtually plead, especially, with protesting outpatients to pay up because it’s a management decision. Hospital authorities justify the levy, saying it’s one of the best options to raise funds to manage the ageing facilities at the hospital. Public Relations Officer, Kwame Frimpong concedes not all patients can afford to pay, but insists it is reasonable. “You know we have only one Komfo Anokye. It acts as a regional hospital, district hospital and it’s a tertiary facility. We all owe it a duty to contribute our bit to ensure that clinical services are not interrupted”. But he sees no wrong when patients contribute to the maintenance and up-keep of the 57-year old hospital they have been accessing. “The ultimate beneficiary of this Development Fund will be the patient because the quality of healthcare is going to increase because there would be funds to do immediate and routine repairs and maintenance”, he insisted.